Smartphone-Based Multiplexed Biosensing Tools for Health Monitoring

Abstract

Many emerging technologies have the potential to improve health care by providing more personalized approaches or early diagnostic methods. In this review, we cover smartphone-based multiplexed sensors as affordable and portable sensing platforms for point-of-care devices. Multiplexing has been gaining attention recently for clinical diagnosis considering certain diseases require analysis of complex biological networks instead of single-marker analysis. Smartphones offer tremendous possibilities for on-site detection analysis due to their portability, high accessibility, fast sample processing, and robust imaging capabilities. Straightforward digital analysis and convenient user interfaces support networked health care systems and individualized health monitoring. Detailed biomarker profiling provides fast and accurate analysis for disease diagnosis for limited sample volume collection. Here, multiplexed smartphone-based assays with optical and electrochemical components are covered. Possible wireless or wired communication actuators and portable and wearable sensing integration for various sensing applications are discussed. The crucial features and the weaknesses of these devices are critically evaluated.

Keywords: biomarkers; biosensors; clinical diagnosis; electrochemical sensor; multiplexed detection; point-of-care (PoC) testing; smartphone-based detection.

Figure 1

Overview of smartphone-based biosensors for health monitoring.

Figure 2

Working principle of electrochemical (A) and optical (B) detection.

Figure 3

Graphical representation of the emerging biosensor technologies along with their applications.

Figure 4

(A) Stretchable patch sensor for epidermal collection and analysis of sweat. Patch consists of colorimetric assays and reference colors. Adapted with permission from Ref. [103]. Copyright 2021, American Chemical Society. (B) A multiplex immunosensor for detection of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, TGF-β1, S. aureus, pH, and temperature for chronic wound monitoring. The device is integrated into a wireless, flexible, printed circuit board (PCB) and can be wearable. Adapted with permission from Ref. [36]. Copyright 2021, American Association for the Advancement of Science. (C) A closed bipolar electrode (CBE)-based two-cell electrochromic device for sensing multiple metabolites, using the simultaneous colorimetric detection of lactate, glucose, and uric acid as a model system. Adapted with permission from Ref. [60]. Copyright 2017, American Chemical Society.

Figure 5

(A) Portable smartphone-based quantum barcode serological assay device for real-time SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis at different sampling dates and infectious severity. The device is based on a databasing app to provide instantaneous results. Adapted with permission from Ref. [44]. Copyright 2022, Elsevier. (B) The SARS-CoV-2 RapidPlex developed on target-specific, laser-engraved graphene immunoassays for PoC COVID-19 biomarkers. The electrochemical device is connected to a PCB and can send the signal to an app wirelessly. Adapted with permission from Ref. [37]. Copyright 2020, Elsevier. (C) A PoC microfluidic platform consisting of a homemade fluorescence detection analyzer, SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic microchips, and immunoassays for detecting IgG, IgM, and SARS-CoV-2 antigen. Adapted with permission from Ref. [114]. Copyright 2022, American Chemical Society.